Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Book Club: "The Age of Desire" an evocative delight

Book Club: "the Age of Desire" an evocative delight
Review by Kory Wells

"A woman in love is an ostentatious thing,” suggests a line in “The Age of Desire,” a newly released novel by Jennie Fields.

It is 1907, and Edith Wharton hasn’t been herself since meeting blue-eyed, brazen Morton Fullerton. Never mind that she’s recently come into her own with the international success of her novel “The House of Mirth.”
Never mind that she has all the privileges of an upper-class life, including a luxurious apartment in Paris, a lush estate in Massachusetts, and friendships with influential thinkers and fellow writers such as Henry James.
Never mind that she has a kindly — though morose — husband, Teddy. It is Morton’s attention that has the normally no-nonsense Edith glowing like a schoolgirl — and realizing how passionless her marriage is. And so she has to admit: “She wants something, but is she willing to take the risk to find it?”

This is not a spoiler, but historical fact: Edith takes the risk and has an affair with Morton.

“The Age of Desire” imagines the emotional complexities of that risk in rich, sensual prose. Informed by Wharton’s letters and journals, the novel also fictionalizes the viewpoint of a second character who has received far less attention in history: Wharton’s childhood governess turned secretary, Anna Bahlman. This book is as much about Edith and Anna’s relationship as it is Edith’s affair and sexual awakening.
Anna can’t believe that Edith would take such a risk with the likes of the roguish Morton Fullerton. Any woman should be happy to call Teddy her husband, Anna thinks — and she once told him that herself.
Anna and Teddy have had a special bond since that long-ago conversation, but Anna’s ultimate devotion is to Edith. She delights in the fact that when she types Edith's words, suggests a small change, or comments on a developing plot, she is becoming part of literary history.

But now both Whartons are becoming more difficult since Morton Fullerton entered the picture. Anna would never have imagined it after all these years, but might she have to start over — at 60?

“I don’t like consequences,” Morton tells Edith early in the book. “The Age of Desire” confronts the consequences of the affair in a way that’s emotionally true, as good literary fiction should, even if that truth might be hard for the most romantic among us. Readers will remember this book for its skillful characterization, period-perfect pacing, and gorgeous writing that is a sometimes erotic and always evocative delight.

Nashvillian Jennie Fields will come home from her national book tour to read and sign copies of “The Age of Desire” at Parnassus Books, 3900 Hillsboro Pike, on at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. She will also appear at the Nashville Public Library as part of its ongoing Salon 615 series at 6:15 p.m. Sept. 20.

 Murfreesboro resident Kory Wells is a poet and volunteer with Read To Succeed.

Originally published: http://www.tennessean.com/article/D4/20120818/LIFESTYLE/308180024/Book-Club-Age-Desire-an-evocative-delight?odyssey=mod_sectionstories

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